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How to take my council to court?

6 replies

communication1 · 12/08/2024 20:28

Me, my husband and two small children lived in first floor flat with a tenant on ground floor. About 1 Yr and a half ago, they moved in the ground floor tenant. He had 2 other people living with him. A boy and a girl. All three were alcoholics, drug users and the girl was a prostitute as well. Since moving in its been a nightmare.

We've lived through assaults, drug dealing and prostitution. We have also been threatened by some of the drug users who came to the property. I have extensive video evidence and police reference numbers. We had begged the council to move us, cried and begged and told them just save my children. We were living in fear and very unsafe. The council pushed us a side like an animal and did nothing. Long story short, I went through the MP, the councillor, my daughter special needs school and eventually after refusing first mangement let, they approved tye second one. They then offered a property almost 2 months later but we still had not moved. There was just no urgency to move us. The antisocial behaviour continued.

Fastfoward Feb 2024, the guy who lived with the tenant set us on fire and tried to kill us while we were asleep at 3am. By luck I woke up and we threw ourselves through the window from second floor. To this day, I don't know how we got out alive. Sadly, the tenant on ground floor didn't make it. It has left us with everlasting mental trauma, I'm suffering everyday. I'm depressed.

I want the council to pay for this. They have been negligent. All of this could have been avoided, had they listened to my cries first time. We are lucky to be here.

How do I go about suing them?

OP posts:
Nextdoor55 · 12/08/2024 22:27

So they recognised that you needed to move, but didn't move you in time for this neighbour set the flats on fire and your neighbour didn't survive?
Sounds horrendous. what a nightmare I am not surprised that you are feeling the way you are.
I would take this to an official complaint to whoever was responsible for housing you / moving you, ask for whatever it is you want, compensation etc, treatment for depression for your family etc. The housing association / council won't do anything I doubt, but you then have the option of going to the housing ombudsman, (sorry I don't know the contact details) but am sure there will be one if you're in the UK.
Don't forget, they also housed you there and presumably housed this unsafe neighbour - so it isn't just about failing to move you, it is also putting someone unsafe next to you, and putting people at risk when clearly they were not safe to be there.
I expect you could also get some legal advice, hopefully someone who is legally qualified will turn up and offer some starting point - but I know that you could go to the ombudsman and then you could take it to a solicitor, it is more powerful if you have a positive ombudsman decision either way.

TizerorFizz · 13/08/2024 08:53

Solicitors Leigh Day might be interested in this. It’s appalling. I’m not a lawyer but as a human being I’m shocked, Have a look at their web site. They take on big organisations.

I would try and see your MP again and definitely a solicitor. They do take cases where the claimant doesn’t pay up front.

thismummydrinksgin · 13/08/2024 09:08

Move out and privately rent?

communication1 · 13/08/2024 15:01

Yes, they didn't move us in time. I reached out to them in June and didn't get offered a property till November and we still hadn't moved until incident happened. They placed us in temporary accommodation because the property they offered was still not ready. It's just really shocking treatment.

I have contacted the housing ombudsman, just waiting dir their reply. Thank you

OP posts:
communication1 · 13/08/2024 15:02

Thank you, I have contacted them.

OP posts:
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